Introduction to a Future Psychedelic Integration Therapist

 Hey!

My name is Spencer and I am a Professional Clinical Psychology Major here at OU! I was born in Illinois, moved to Florida, then Germany, then back to Florida, and by the start of sixth grade, I had moved to Norman, Oklahoma. I have always been fascinated by science, the human mind, and different worldviews/cultures different than my own. Once I graduate from OU, I plan to go to grad school and get a Ph.D. in psychedelic integration therapy or research. Current methods of treating mental health today are not adequate, outdated, and only treat the symptoms of the issues rather than the cause of the mental issue. Prior to the pandemic taking place, this country was already facing a mental health and drug addiction crisis. Now with the pandemic, these issues in America are reaching new all-time highs. Recently, Oregon legalized Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy and the FDA has allowed clinical research studies into various psychedelic drugs that could treat depression, anxiety, addiction,  PTSD, terminal illness, or end-of-life therapy, amongst other things. Universities across the nation are opening psychedelic research centers and programs, for people like me, such as John Hopkins University. Cities around the United States, including the capital, have begun decriminalizing psychedelic drugs. Well done studies are being published showcasing safe methods to use these drugs, how non-addictive/toxic psychedelic drugs are, and their potential use for various mental health issues are increasing rapidly in the research community. For clarification, a psychedelic integration therapist is someone who meets with a person before and after they have a mental health professional assisted psychedelic therapy experience. It is someone who answers questions or concerns prior to such an experience, and someone who you talk to afterward to both understand their experience better but also integrate what they learned into long-term healing for that individual. The coolest part of my major is that I get to work in a new, developing, field that has the potential to greatly help people heal from their mental health problems. I also really enjoy the varying responses I receive from people when I tell them about my future career. The best class I took last semester was the African American Research studies course where I wrote a 27 page paper about the psychedelic drugs' potential in creating a better, more equitable, mental health future and the steps needed so that the people suffering most from mental health issues could finally have access to medical help. My biggest accomplishment of last semester was most likely writing that massive paper I just mentioned. I also received straight A's but that paper I wrote meant a lot more to me personally. In the future, I hope to open my own psychedelic integration office and potentially participate in research too. I dream of helping revolutionize psychology, understand the human brain better, and help people understand and heal from their mental health issues in their lives. I know too many people who suffer from mental health issues and have given up on antidepressants or pharmaceutical drugs that are addictive and harmful on their accounts. I dream of helping people like them, who want it and have sought help in the past but have failed to heal quite yet. My dream job would be to become a college professor, when I am old, to teach people about psychedelic therapy and how the old paradigm of psychology was hindered by its denial of psychedelic drugs' medical potential for mental health. My favorite hobbies include meal-prepping/cooking, frisbee golf, meditation, reading, binging tv shows, and hanging with friends in my free time. Whenever I am not doing that, I am either studying or working at Panera Bread on Main street. If you see a tall white guy with a red hat working there, that's me! 

Hope y'all liked the introduction! Apologies in advance for the long explanation, I am quite used to explaining these concepts to people since the education and knowledge on this topic are drenched with misinformation and past propaganda. I look forward to this class and what the stories we will read will teach us.

A picture of Brody (half Boxer, half Great Dane), taken by me!